In search of a better quality of life, fulfilling our dreams to see the world and provide ourselves and young children with invaluable experiences, we sold our home and possessions in London to begin our journey of a lifetime.
Here we will share our tips, stories, successes and failures, not only for our families and friends, but also to assist those who may have similar adventures in mind. We hope also to inspire those who relish the idea of travelling to newer and unfamiliar pastures but do not know how and those who require some evidence it can be done.

14 March 2011

World Travel: Keep It Simple, Be Humble, Love Life...

SEVERAL months ago, whilst in Capilla Del Monte, Argentina, Jamie and I were reading the same book. In it the author asked the reader to list those persons he or she admired the most or would aspire to be more like.

Jamie and I named two people who made each of our lists: tennis star Roger Federer was one and Bob Lesson the other.

Of course, most of you know Federer, but Lesson might be a stranger to some of you. It’s because of Bob that I am probably doing what I am doing – he kick-started my travel fantasy many years ago, telling me of his journeys as a teenager during his school summer holidays.

His parents never took him on vacation, so he decided, as a 14-year-old, to go by himself. So for six weeks during the summer break he disappeared without a trace and, unbeknown to his folks, hitch-hiked his way to faraway places like India and Afghanistan.

Bob Lesson isn’t his real name. He was originally dubbed the Lesson Man, because of his enthusiasm for life and how he has had lessons in practically everything.

Later Lesson Man became Bob Lesson and the name stuck. You name it and he’s done it. Bob’s motto to life is to ‘keep things simple’. But he always told me, ‘Never want for anything’. He welcomes change, knows how to be in the moment and truly adores living like no-one else I know.

Bob has difficulty saying no to life. And although I’ve never seen him conduct a press conference in four languages like Federer can, I wouldn’t put it past him. He’s a great communicator. He has the feel-good factor – spend time with him and the world feels like a better place.

What also makes him so great is that Bob doesn’t even realise it and/or is too humble to accept it. Now in his mid-50s, Bob, a self-taught landscape gardener, even enjoys getting older – because life improves for him every year. He always wears a smile and can empathise better than anyone I know.

I once asked him how it was possible to feel such deep empathy (he is known for blubbing at the most unexpected moments) and he reckoned it was in part because of his travel, when often he’d have to sleep on and live off the streets in India and other places where there has been and still is great poverty.

Bob realised on those youthful adventures just how fortunate he was and that sense of gratitude has never left him.

When I first met him, about 26 years ago (he was delivering frozen food door-to-door to my mother), I didn’t quite ‘get’ him. His philosophy and mine were polar opposites. But we got on flawlessly almost instantly and now we’re practically on the same page, though still very different personalities.

I can fully appreciate him and so do Jamie and Zenchai. That is because Bob has a special effect on people and I’ve been fortunate to have travelled extensively and shared so many laughs, conversations and experiences with him. He is like family to me. He’s nearly always happy, full of life and energy.

And though we haven’t seen him in six months, Bob lives in us every day. His spirit touches us in almost every moment. We often ask ourselves, ‘what would Bob do now?’

Travel has had a tremendous impact on Bob and, consequently, almost every person who’s had the joy of spending time with him. That’s one reason why Jamie and I embarked on our journey and why we wanted to share the gift of travel with Zenchai and our soon-to-be-born son or daughter.

3 Comments

Agreed, Bob Lesson is a unique bloke. I don't think I have ever seen him without a smile on his face!
The one saying that he shared in my birthday card many years ago has stuck with me ever since........"you don't stop playing when you get old, you only get old when you stop playing!"